# CVE-2018-8653: Microsoft Internet Explorer Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2018-8653-microsoft-internet-explorer-scripting-engine-memory-corruption  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-11-03. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2018-8653 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.5 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-11-03

A memory corruption vulnerability exists in the Microsoft Internet Explorer scripting engine due to improper handling of objects in memory. An attacker could exploit this to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user, typically via a specially crafted website.

Technologies: [Microsoft Internet Explorer](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/internet-explorer). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2018-8653 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2018-8653 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 November 2021. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2018-8653?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.5, published 3 November 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Internet Explorer 9; Microsoft Internet Explorer 10; Microsoft Internet Explorer 11.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2018-8653?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2018-8653 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2018-8653?** Check whether you run Microsoft Internet Explorer. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Internet Explorer 9
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 10
- Microsoft Internet Explorer 11

## Timeline

- 2018-12-19: disclosed: Initial vulnerability disclosure and patch release by Microsoft.
- 2019-01-03: other: Initial analysis by NIST NVD.
- 2021-11-03: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog.

## Related threats

- [Microsoft Internet Explorer use-after-free privilege escalation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-83741-use-after-free-in-internet-explorer-allows-an-authorized-attacker)
- [Microsoft Internet Explorer use-after-free in HTML object handling](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2010-0249-microsoft-internet-explorer-use-after-free-in-html-object-handling)
- [Microsoft Internet Explorer use-after-free in Peer Objects](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2010-0806-microsoft-internet-explorer-use-after-free-in-peer-objects)
- [Microsoft Internet Explorer use-after-free in CSS processing](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2010-3962-microsoft-internet-explorer-use-after-free-in-css-processing)
- [Microsoft Internet Explorer use after free in mshtml.dll](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2013-3893-microsoft-internet-explorer-use-after-free-in-mshtml-dll)